Game apparatus



Patented Mar. 11 1947 UNI TED STATE S PAT ENT O FFICE 2,417,173 GAME APPARATUS James M. Prentice, South Hadley, Mass. Applicationrkug ust 28, 1944 Scria-1 No". 551488 1 Claim. (01. 273108) This invention relates to game apparatus and the principal objects of-theinvention are directed to game apparatus comprising cooperating elements arranged and constructed so that the apparatus may be adapted to simulate various games such as baseball, football, and the like.

The novel features of the invention include a board on which may be disposed the representation of a playing field and playing pieces representing players which a spinner may displace With sockets in the board to receive the playing pieces.

In describing the novel game device reference will be made to the game of baseball but the invention is not to be limited thereto. With the game of baseball various rules of play may be adopted to make use of the cooperating elements of the apparatus.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a game board forming a part of the apparatus of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the board shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a, plurality of playing pieces representing players;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing playing pieces representing other players; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are plan and elevational views of a spinner of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, th invention will be fully described.

A game board 2 is shown which has a substantially level floor 4 with a frame 6 extending upwardly at the sides thereof.

The elements of a baseball diamond with positions for the players are represented by 8 and Ill. When the apparatus is used for another game than baseball other representations will be used.

The board has an upwardly inclined portion 5 but may not be desired in all cases.

A plurality of playing pieces I 2 are shown in Fig. 3. These are preferably cylindrical in form with tapering and curving ends terminating in fiat ends, as shown.

The board is provided with a plurality of sockets or holes M which are adapted to receive the pieces I2. The said pieces may pass into or through the sockets or may rest angularly therein. The flat ends of the pieces are for supporting them but being rounded they not only may readily enter the sockets I 4 but said rounded ends cause the pieces to traverse the board when hit by the spinner to be described.

Other pieces it are shown in Fig. 4. pieces are preferably cylindrical and their These lower 2. ends, are receivable. in sockets. or vlcled. inthe board. 4.

While in. the operation. of the apparatus the pieces l6 have their. lower ends inserted in the sockets I8 they are so arranged that they may be displaced from their sockets by a spinner.

A spinner 20 is provided which is disc-like and has a plurality of flat sides 22 to provide corners 24.

A manually engageable stem 26 extends upwardly from the disc and a cylindrical part 28 extends downwardly therefrom which preferably has a fiat end, as shown. v

The stem may be engaged between the fingers and swirled so that the spinner will spin on the fiat end of the part 28. By spinning on the flat end .the spinner will while in rotation move around the board so that the corners of the disc may engage and displace one or more of the playing pieces from its position.

Various rules may be adopted to suit the particular game and the playing pieces may be placed according to the rules on the representations on the board.

In the operation of the apparatus the spinner is set in motion, on the inclined portion of the board when used, and in its rotation traverses the board so that it may engage and displace the playing pieces 62 and I6 from their position.

When the game is adapted for baseball and the rules are such a playing piece I2 when displaced from its location may indicate a strike. When a playing piece I2 is displaced and enters a socket it it may indicate another play, or should a piece l 8 be displaced from a socket or the spinner enter a socket the same may indicate other plays.

As stated, the pieces I 2 are receivable in the sockets it while the pieces l6 are insertable in the sockets Hi. The spinner because of its special form is adapted to traverse the board so that it may displace the pieces l6 from their sockets or to displace a piece I2 so that it enters a socket l4.

All together the elements are such as to cooperate and produce according to the rules adopted a very interesting and exciting game.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being holes [8 proindicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claim is therefore intended to be embraced in rotation on said starting surface so as to travtherein. erse said surfaces and engage and dislodge said What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters certain playing pieces from their holes and. the Patent of the United States is: other playing pieces from said indications.

A game apparatus comprising in combination, 5 a. board having a flat surface provided with the JAMES M. PRENTICE. representation of a playing field and a starting surface at one end thereof extending upwardly REFERENCES CITED d away th e o at a relatively slight incline, The following references are of record in the said playing field including indications for posifil of this patent;

tioning playing pieces, said flat surf-ace provided in operative association with the playing field UNITED STATES PATENTS with holes for receiving and positioning certain Number Name Date playing pieces and with sockets for other playing 460,431 Cromwell Sept. 29, 1891 pieces, a plurality of certain playing pieces and 1,731,353 s t t 5 92 a plurality of other playing pieces; said sockets 2,252,451 Anderson Aug. 12, 1941 adapted to loosely receive said other playing 1,644,466 Dewes 1- 4, 1927 pieces and said other playing pieces being of rela- 1,575,264 Henry Man 2, 1926 tively larger dimensions than said certain playing 930,312 Maunders Ja 3, 1911 pieces and holes and adapted to be placed on said 1,317, 40 Nussbeck Sept. 30, 1919 indications, a frame at adjacent and ppo 1,470,872 Ovenshire Oct. 16, 1923 sides of said board extending upwardly above the plane of the surface thereof, and an actuator in FOREIGN PATENTS the form of a spinner having a lower end and Number Country Date radially extending projections adapted to be set 195,430 German Feb. 14, 1908 

